Medical tests for Owaisi today to check if he's fit for questioning

Hyderabad: Government doctors will examine MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi today to find out if he is physically fit for questioning by police in connection with the case booked against him over his alleged hate speeches, police said.

Owaisi, who is leader of MIM in Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly, has also moved the high court, seeking orders to restrain police from arresting him and also to quash cases booked against him in various police stations over his alleged hate speeches.

Hours after Owaisi, who returned from London early Monday, cited ill-health and sought four days' time to personally appear for questioning before police in Nirmal town of Adilabad district, the investigation officer visited the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) leader's house here to ascertain his condition.

MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi. Screen grab/ YouTube

Inspector General of Police (Warangal range) AB Venkateshwar Rao told reporters Monday night that the investigating officer found him in a fit condition to face investigations.

"However, Mr Akbaruddin Owaisi complained of some internal pains. The investigating officer has decided to subject him to medical tests tomorrow (Tuesday) before taking further action," he said.

Earlier, tension prevailed at the MIM leader's house in the posh Banjara Hills neighbourhood as a large number of his supporters gathered outside, raising slogans in his favour. Some of the protestors were holding placards. "Why all rules for Akbar Owaisi, not for Narendra Modi or Praveen Togadia," read one such placard.

Two police officers from Nirmal left the house after they spent 45 minutes. Citing ill-health, Owaisi who returned from London early Monday, did not travel to Nirmal, about 200 km from here. Police had directed him to appear before Nirmal police station Monday morning.

In his petition, Owaisi also sought directions to police to stop registering cases. He argued that cases can't be registered in many police stations over his one or two speeches.

He alleged that a section of media telecast only part of his speech and police booked cases due to pressure from media. He also claimed that his political rivals were filing series of complaints. The petition will come up for hearing on Jan 9.

Earlier, two lawyers, who reached Nirmal police station on behalf of Owaisi, submitted doctors' report.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its frontal organizations meanwhile continued their protests against Owaisi in various parts of the state. A shutdown was observed in Nirmal, where prohibitory orders were imposed.

BJP workers took out a rally in Nirmal and tried to lay siege to the police station where Owaisi's lawyers was meeting the police officials. Police have arrested some protestors.

BJP staged protests at various places in Hyderabad, Adilabad, Nizamabad and other districts, demanding immediate arrest of the legislator. The protestors set afire the effigy of the MIM leader.

Owaisi arrived at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here around 3 a.m. to a warm welcome by MIM leaders and hundreds of supporters. He later drove to his house.

Police in Nirmal last week booked the 42-year-old MIM leader under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 121 (waging or attempting to wage war against the state), Section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, language and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and Section 295A (for deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs).

The Nizamabad police, who too booked him under Section 153A and 295A of the IPC, also directed him to appear before them Jan 8 for questioning over a speech he made in the town.

The Osmania University police in Hyderabad also have slapped a case against him at the directions of a city court, and summoned the legislator Jan 10.

In another development, the ethics committee of the state assembly at its meeting Monday decided to recommend to assembly speaker to take action against Owaisi for his provocative speeches. It decided to take up the issue in the next session.

Meanwhile, MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said now that his brother is back in Hyderabad, he would appear before the appropriate authority. "We will face the case legally and we are not going to run away," he told a meeting at MIM headquarters.

He alleged that the ruling Congress and BJP had joined hands to target Akbar Owaisi and MIM.